PFD donations drop leaves nonprofits doing more with less

A Catholic Social Services sign with the nonprofit group's motto (File/KTVA)

The people who run the Pick. Click. Give. program say Alaskans' Permanent Fund dividend donations to nonprofits are down so far this year.

Sofia Fouquet, Pick. Click. Give.'s director, says the program has been funneling less money to nonprofits since a high in 2015. Fouquet said smaller dividend checks and uncertainty about the economy may be fueling people's feelings about charitable giving.

But another group is seeing different results. Elizabeth Miller with United Way of Anchorage said they expect to see donations to the nonprofits in their program increase by 3 percent over last year's funding levels. She said it's a change from the decreases they've experienced in the last three years.

Many nonprofits say they are being challenged in the current economy. Dollars may be down and in almost all cases, the need is up.

That's the case at Catholic Social Services, where funding is down for several programs including the Brother Francis Shelter, Clare House and the St. Francis House Food Pantry. Development Director Tricia Teasley said the food pantry in particular took a big hit when a national sponsor pulled out.

St. Francis House is feeding 100 families a day, said Teasley, and it could use some help. The program will accept monetary donations but also food items listed on its website.